[52.06] Near Infrared Spectra from Mauna Kea of the New Brightest Kuiper Belt Object

We have discovered a new, bright Kuiper Belt Object (KBO)
internally named K40506A as part of our on-going survey for
the largest and brightest outer solar system objects. This
survey is responsible for discovering the three known Minor
Planets with the greatest absolute magnitudes: Quaoar, Orcus
and Sedna (H = 2.6, 2.3 and 1.6, respectively). K40506A has
heliocentric distance of 52 AU and a visual magnitude of
17.5, giving it an H value of about 0.4. Therefore, K40506A
is the brightest apparent magnitude KBO and the brightest
absolute magnitude minor planet as of this writing (see
Rabinowitz et al. in this proceedings).

We present low and medium resolution 1.0 to 2.5 micron
near-infrared reflectance spectra of the surface of K40506A,
obtained at the Gemini 8-m and Keck 10-m telescopes on Mauna
Kea. These high signal to noise spectra represent over 13
hours of on-source time using the two telescopes. Both
spectra show clear signs of water ice. Strong constraints
will be placed on the presence of less absorptive species of
volatile ices. We present these data and discuss their
physical implications for the large minor planet K40506A.

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trujillo@gemini.edu